Vocabulary, Security, Storming of the Bastille and of course French

Now that I already passed the half-time break of my French language course I will give you an update about the most recent events.

I am still happily living with the Myriam's family and it is really nice having most of the time dinner together...even though I am not talking that much I am trying make a statement here and there.

Surprisingly I spent most of the time with French grammar, vocabulary and two huge UN security exercises. Those online tests are a mandatory requirement for the internship. The "Basic and Advanced Security in the Field" exercises took me in total about 7 hours and after passing the exams I felt like I am ready to be sent to the worst spots on earth...at least in theory.
The questions covered everything...from "how to deal with child soldiers?", "what is the proper behaviour in a mine filed?", "how do you find out directions in the middle of nowhere?" to "what has to be considered sexual harassment in the office?". It was really interesting and I am serious about it when I tell you that I learnt something!

After finishing the last exam I went to Lyon downtown because it was the 14th July which is the French National Day, celebrating the Storming of the Bastille. I met with my people from school to have dinner together and to watch the official firework at night. The fireworks have been...okay...nothing too crazy, but I felt like I absorbed some real French culture :-)



The last couple of days were more like business as usual besides my 3 major book purchases..."Le petit Nicolas" (French book for children...and adults), "Lonely Planet Madagascar" and "Le Monde Diplomatique"...

Yesterday night my fellow students and I have been invited to French birthday party...it was in downtown Lyon and it was so far the best night out in Lyon. We were about 20 people, cooking, eating, drinking and talking together...and I recognized that I got definitely more confident in speaking French which puts a big smile on my face...so no regrets for coming to Lyon at all!!!

Things are going quite well for me here...so I managed it to organize 1-on-1 French lessons beginning directly after my cours in the school ends. Hopefully those additional and individual lessons will boost my skills even a bit further...and other good news I received: obviously the Malagassy speak a clear and slow French, but maybe my friends just told me that to calm me down...I will figure it out in less than 2 month!

Okay, I have class tomorrow at 8.30am which means that I have to get up at 6.45am...and if I am lucky I will meet the French Astrid for an afternoon cafe in French...yeah, it is all about the "most romantic language" on earth...and I am not talking about Deutsch.

MGG Fabi

Bienvenue à Lyon

It has been almost a week by now since I arrived in Lyon. After a 9 hour ride by my legendary car (it is well known as “The White Rider”) from Germany to France, I finally sneaked through the Lyonnaise traffic to find my accommodation. I stayed with Thierry Martinez, an active member from the Hospitality Club and Couchsurfing Project. If you don’t know what it is then you really have to check it out…because it an incredible good opportunity to crash somewhere for a couple of days and to meet interesting and very kind people.

My French course began on Monday morning 8.30h with and evaluation exam to check everybody’s level of French. I was put in the intermediate group which is totally okay. Obviously I don’t have too many problems when it comes to understanding, but it is the grammar which is giving me a hard time.

I have 4 hours of class every day and it is a mix between grammar (arrgh!), oral expression, listening comprehension and history. So far I am quite happy with my choice of the school….the teachers are good and the fellow students are great (Russians, half-Italian half-Vietnamese, half-Thai half-French, Kiwis, Mexicans, Columbians, US-Americans, Koreans, Chinese…).

On Tuesday I moved to Myriam, the French friend of mine from my Erasmus semester in Spain. So I live with her and her family (parents, younger brother Yannis and their huge dog!) outside of Lyon in a small but nice little Town called St. Quentin Fallavier. It is great living with them, they are very welcoming and helpful. I have my own room and working space which helps me a lot to take care of all the pending preparation which is still lying ahead of me.

To get to the school every day I have to drive by the White Rider to the closest metro station. From there on it goes more or less directly to the school. I use this almost 45 minute ride to read newspaper, which I think helps a lot to improve my French…even though I might look funny with the tiny dictionary in my hands.

Now…after the first week I am still optimistic concerning the benefits of my stay and so I am looking forward to the second week…with more French grammar and a planned international dinner party.

MGG Fabi